Description
The vertebral venous plexuses are the network of veins that surround the vertebral column along its entire length. It is a nonuniform network of vessels located inside the vertebral column and immediately outside the vertebrae, primarily concentrated in anterior and posterior locations. The vertebral venous plexuses are composed of valveless veins, which are free to anastomose with each other.
The vertebral venous plexuses drain to the intervertebral veins and to join with the azygos, deep cervical, and lumbar veins.
Additionally, the venous plexuses communicate with the dural venous sinuses, and with the deep veins of the neck and pelvis. This expansive open pathway may allow for the spread of malignancies and sepsis (Standring, 2016).
Related parts of the anatomy
List of Clinical Correlates
- Spinal epidural hematoma
- Venous metastases
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41 edn.: Elsevier Limited.
